Alex Morgan is always kicking ass. At 31, she’s a captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, a forward for the Orlando Pride, and a new mom. (Her daughter, Charlie, was born in May, and her husband is soccer player Servando Carrasco.) On top of that, she’s the creator of The Kicks—a series of young adult novels to inspire people to play their best—and is building a global content company that will showcase the stories of female athletes. Here’s what gives her purpose.
Strength is her foundation.
“My confidence makes me strong. Dedicating a lot of my life to my profession and feeling fulfilled makes me strong. Having a family and a husband who challenge me makes me strong.”
Her much-needed break.
“Right now, I’m at Charlie’s disposal. Sometimes I just want to sleep when Charlie’s sleeping, or clean the house—it’s a mess! But I always think how good it feels to be sweaty after a workout. We have a Peloton bike, so I’m doing classes three or four times a week. Every day I have a 45minute program customized for me, and it’s all bodyweight exercises, like glute bridges, lunges, squats, a lot of yoga poses.”
A “one more” mantra drives her.
“Physically, I like to make myself uncomfortable at least once a day. If I’m taking shots, it’s taking a couple extra. If I’m in the gym, it’s doing an extra rep or an extra five or 10 pounds. It’s choosing to push myself more than I think I’m capable of. When you conquer that, you feel like, ‘OK, I’m the only one holding myself back.’”
Read More: SHAPE
